Student desk with book box

ABSTRACT

The present invention is related to a desk structure. The desk structure comprises a writing surface, and a book box which is secured to the writing surface. A plurality of receiver sleeves are integrally molded with the book box. Each receiver sleeve has an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall of the receiver sleeve has a slot and a plurality of radially spaced ribs. The inner wall defines an opening. The desk structure further comprises a plurality of legs. Each leg has an upper leg portion. The upper leg portion of each leg is received by the inner wall opening of a corresponding receiver sleeve. Additionally, each upper leg portion includes a detent. The detent is adapted to engage a corresponding inner wall slot when the upper leg portion is received by the inner wall opening of the corresponding receiver sleeve. Thus, the detent both secures the leg to the book box and positions the upper leg portion within the opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to desks, and more specifically,to a student desk structure having a book box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Student desks are commonly used in classrooms for storing books andother educational materials. Many structural configurations for desksuse a book box in connection with a frame and legs. Known student desksuse a welded metal frame. The metal frame both supports the book box andreceives the legs, attaching them to the book box.

Although book boxes have been constructed of plastic in the past, theyhave not provided any structural support for the accompanying legs anddesktop. A metal frame has been used with these plastic book boxes inorder to provide the necessary support for the desk box and to connectthe legs to the book box. The difficulty in using a welded metal frameis that while it provides the proper support and connection, it is verybulky. The metal frame takes up valuable cargo space in a truck orcontainer, making it difficult and costly to transport the desks.

Further, if a desk structure is shipped without the metal frameattached, assembly generally requires the use of tools and takes anumber of steps. Thus, attempts to solve the shipping problem byshipping the desk structure, disassembled from the welded metal frameand legs have not been adequate.

Additionally, known student desks can be easily disassembled. Thiscreates a potential hazard in the classroom. Students may be able totake apart the individual metal pieces of their desk structures, and usethe metal pieces as weapons. Therefore, a desk structure that is noteasily disassembled is needed.

The present invention is provided to solve the above and other problems,and to provide advantages and aspects not previously provided. A fulldiscussion of the features and advantages of the present invention isdeferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds withreference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The desk structure of the present invention comprises a writing surface,secured to a book box. A plurality of receiver sleeves are integrallymolded with the book box. Each receiver sleeve has an outer wall and aninner wall. The inner wall has a slot and a plurality of radially spacedribs. The inner wall defines an opening. The desk structure furthercomprises a plurality of legs, each with an upper leg portion. The upperleg portion of each leg is received by the inner wall opening of acorresponding receiver sleeve. Each upper leg portion includes a detentadapted to engage a corresponding inner wall slot when the upper legportion is received by the inner wall opening of the correspondingreceiver sleeve.

In one embodiment, the detent is a protrusion that extends outward fromand perpendicular to the upper leg portion. The detent partiallyretracts into the upper leg portion as the upper leg portion is receivedby the inner wall opening. The detent returns to the extended outwardposition and engages the slot once the upper leg portion is fullyreceived by the opening, positioning the upper leg portion within theopening.

Once the detent engages the slot, movement of the upper leg portion issubstantially prevented. The ribs of the receiver sleeve inner wall forma press fit with the upper leg portion to further secure the upper legportion within the opening.

In another embodiment, the leg of the desk structure includes a lowerleg portion and a leg extension member. The extension member istelescopically received by the lower leg portion. Each extension memberincludes a plurality of vertically aligned holes. Each lower leg portionincludes a plurality of vertically aligned holes, which correspond tothe holds of the extension member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained byconsidering the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of an example of a desk structure inan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective front view of an example of a deskstructure in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an example of a receiver sleeve in anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top hidden-line view of an example of a receiver sleeve anddetent in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a receiver sleeve inan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of a detent and upper legportion in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an example of a detent in an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example of a lower leg portiontelescopically receiving an extension member in an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of an example of fasteners securingthe writing surface to the book box in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention is susceptible of many differentembodiments, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be describedin detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a perspective front view of an example of a deskstructure 10. The desk structure 10 comprises a writing surface 12secured to a book box 14. The writing surface 12 may be secured usingfasteners, preferably screws. However, other fasteners may be used, suchas pins or bolts. Other methods of attachment are possible as well,including hingeably attaching the writing surface 12 to the book box 14.The writing surface 12 lays substantially flat on the book box 14 sothat students may easily write on it or place other objects upon it.Placement of the writing surface 12 on the book box 14 completes theintended volume of the book box 14 for holding learning materials. Thewriting surface 12 may be constructed of a single molded material, alamination of wood products and melamine laminates, or a variety ofother materials.

The desk structure 10 further includes a plurality of receiver sleeves16 located about the exterior of the book box 12. Preferably, thereceiver sleeves 16 are each integrally molded with the book box 14 ateach of the four corners of the book box 14. However, the receiversleeves 16 may be located at other locations of the book box 14. In oneembodiment, the receiver sleeves are cylindrically tapered; however, thereceiver sleeves 16 may be formed with other internal and externalgeometries. While the book box 14 and receiver sleeves 16 are preferablymade out of molded plastic, other suitable materials may be used.

As shown by FIGS. 3-5, each receiver sleeve 16 has an outer wall 18 andan inner wall 20. The inner wall 20 defines an opening 22. The innerwall 20 has a slot 24 and a plurality of radially spaced ribs 26. Theslot 24 and ribs 26 are integrally molded with the receiver sleeve 16.In addition, the inner wall 20 may include a guiding notch 28, which isalso integrally molded with the receiver sleeve 16. The notch 28 extendsalong the full length of the receiver sleeve 16, and its depth variesdue to the tapered shape of the receiver sleeve 16. The notch ispositioned so that it is aligned with the slot 24, as shown by FIG. 5.In a preferred embodiment, the slot 24 and ribs 26 are located near thetop of the receiver sleeve inner wall 20. However, the slot 24 and ribs26 may be located at alternative positions of the inner wall 20.

As shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, the desk structure 10 further comprises aplurality of legs 30. Each leg 30 includes an upper leg portion 32. Theupper leg portion 32 of each leg 30 is received by the inner wallopening 22 of a corresponding receiver sleeve 16. The receiver sleeves16 act to secure the legs 30 to the book box 14. Thus, because thereceiver sleeves 16 are integrally molded with the book box 14, theplastic book box 14 both provides structural support for the deskstructure 10 and connects the legs 30 to the book box 14. Thiseliminates the need for a bulky metal frame.

As shown by FIG. 6, each upper leg portion 32 includes a detent 36. Thedetent 36 is adapted to engage a corresponding inner wall slot 24 whenthe upper leg portion 32 is received by the inner wall opening 22 of thecorresponding receiver sleeve 16, as shown by FIG. 4. Thus, the detent36 secures the leg 30 to the receiver sleeve 16 of the book box 14. Inone embodiment, the detent 36 is a protrusion that extends outward fromand perpendicular to the upper leg portion 32. By engaging the slot 24,the detent 36 positions the upper leg portion 32 within the opening 22.

In one embodiment, the detent 36 may be a snap button. Acceptable typesof snap buttons 36 include those manufactured out of 1050 Spring Steelby Valco®/Valley Tool and Die, Inc., 10020 York Theta Drive, NorthRoyalton, Ohio 44133. As shown in FIG. 7, the snap button 36 may begenerally V-shaped, having two prongs 38, wherein one prong 38 includesa button head 40. Other types of snap buttons may also be used. The snapbutton 36 is spring-loaded. To position the snap button 36 within theupper leg portion 32, the prongs 38 are compressed, and the button snap36 is placed in the upper leg portion 32. As shown by FIG. 6, the snapbutton 36 may be positioned such that the prong 38 with the button head40 is generally parallel to the upper leg portion 32. The spring-loadedforce creates a press fit between the prongs 38 and the upper legportion 32. This secures the snap button 36 within the upper leg portion32. The snap button 36 is further positioned so that the button head 40of the snap button 36 extends outward from and perpendicular to theupper leg portion 32 through an aperture 42, as shown in FIG. 6. While aV-shaped Valco snap button 36 is preferred, other snap buttons may beused as well. Furthermore, other types of detents 36, other than snapbuttons, may also be used to position and secure the upper leg portion32 within the opening 22.

When the upper leg portion 32 is inserted into opening 22, the upper legportion is initially oriented so that the button head 40 of the snapbutton 36 is aligned with the notch 28. The notch 28 guides the upperleg portion 32 so that the snap button 36 will properly engage the slot24 of the inner wall 20. Once the upper leg portion 32 is properlyaligned, force is applied to slide the upper leg portion 32 into theopening 22. This force causes the button head 40 of the snap button 36to partially retract back into the upper leg portion 32 as the upper legportion 32 is received by the inner wall opening 22. The press fitbetween the prongs 38 of the snap button 36 and the upper leg portion 32prevents the snap button 36 from substantially moving as the button head40 retracts through the aperture 42. Further, because the button head 40slides up the notch 28, it does not need to fully retract into the upperleg portion 32 as the upper leg portion 32 is received by the opening22. The snap button 36 will return to the extended outward position andengage the slot 24 once the upper leg portion 32 is fully received bythe opening 22. As mentioned above, other snap buttons 36 may be used.For example, the snap button 36 may include a button head 40 thatextends out from the upper leg portion 32 in a different direction.Further, while a snap button is preferred, other suitable detents 36 mayalso be used.

The leg 30 may also be connected to the book box 14 by inserting the leg30 into the receiver sleeve 16 through the top portion of the receiversleeve 16, opposite the opening 22. The leg 30 is inserted into thereceiver sleeve 16 until the upper leg portion 32 is received by theinner wall 20 of the receiver sleeve 16. Because the detent 36 islocated at the upper leg portion 32, the detent 36 can essentially bedropped into the slot 24, as opposed to retracting and then extendinginto the slot 24. The detent 36 can be aligned with the slot 24 afterinsertion of the leg 30 has begun by simply rotating the leg 30. Thus,there is no need to perform the initial alignment with the notch 28.However, the leg 30 can only be inserted into the top portion of thereceiver sleeve 16 if the writing surface 12 is not yet secured to thebook box 14.

Once the detent 36 engages the slot 24, movement of the upper legportion 32 is substantially prevented. The detent 36 cannot be easilyaccessed once it has engaged the slot 24 and the writing surface 12 hasbeen secured to the book box 14. As shown by FIG. 4, the slot 24 doesnot extend past the outer wall 18 of the receiver sleeve 16. Thus, thedetent 36 is essentially enclosed by the receiver sleeve 16 when thedetent 36 is engaged with the slot 24. Additionally, the detent 36 iscovered by the writing surface 12. Therefore, once the writing surface12 is secured to the book box 14 and the upper leg portion 32 isreceived by the opening 22, the detent 36 is essentially tamper proof.It is not accessible without disassembling the desk structure 10 byremoving the writing surface 12. This ensures that students will not beable to disassemble the desk structure 10 and potentially injurethemselves, thereby creating for a safer classroom environment.

Once the upper leg portion 32 is received by the opening 22 of the innerwall 20, the ribs 26 of the receiver sleeve inner wall 20 form a pressfit with the upper leg portion 32. This further secures the upper legportion 32 within the opening 22, creating stability for the deskstructure 10. The ribs 26 may be used in conjunction with the detent 36,or the ribs 26 alone may be used to ensure that the upper leg portion 32is secured within the opening 22.

Additionally, the tapered shape of the receiver sleeves 16 increases thestability of the legs 30. The narrower and more tapered bottom of thereceiver sleeve 16 decreases the amount of excess room between thereceiver sleeve inner wall 20 and the upper leg portion 32. Thus, thereis less “wobble room” for the legs 30.

No tools are required to connect the legs 30 to the book box 14, as thedetent 36 and the ribs 26 secure the upper leg portion 32 within theopening 22. This reduces the time and cost associated with assembly.Further, transportation of the desk structure 10 without the legs 30attached allows for easier storage and shipment. The individualcomponents of the desk structure 10 can easily be stacked into a morecompact formation. This is in stark contrast to current desks which havebulky metal frames and are difficult to economically ship. The ease ofassembly provided by the present invention reduces the need to assemblethe desk structure 10 prior to shipping. Thus, a greater number of deskstructures 10 may be shipped in each shipment. The end result is a muchmore cost-effective method of shipping the desk structures 10.

In another embodiment, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg 30 includes alower leg portion 34 and a leg extension member 44. Each extensionmember 44 is telescopically received by the lower leg portion 34. Thus,the extension member 44 should be sized to be receivable by the lowerleg portion 34. Each extension member 44 includes a plurality ofvertically aligned holes 46. Additionally, each lower leg portion 34 mayinclude a plurality of vertically aligned holes 48. The holes 48 of thelower leg portion 34 allow for a range of different assembly heights.

As shown by FIG. 8, the lower leg holes 48 are designed to correspond tothe extension member holes 46. Thus, when the extension member 44 isreceived by the lower leg portion 34, the holes 46 of the extensionmember 44 and the holes 48 of the lower leg portion 34 can be lined upsuch that a range of heights can be achieved. For example, the lower legportion 34 may receive nearly the entire length of the extension member44 in order to provide for a shorter desk structure 10. Alternatively,the extension member 44 may be extended to its maximum height, in whichcase a minimum amount of the extension member 44 is received by thelower leg portion 34. In either scenario, the extension member 44 willprovide enough support to ensure the stability of the desk structure 10.

One or more fasteners 50 pass through aligned holes 46 of the extensionmember and holes 48 of the lower leg portion. Preferably, the fasteners50 are screws. However, other fasteners such as pins or bolts may alsobe used to secure the extension member 44 to the lower leg portion 34.When the preferred screws are used, the holes 46 of the extension member44 are formed, punched, and tapped. The fasteners 50 secure theextension member 44 to the lower leg portion 34 at the desired height,ensuring that movement of the extension member 44 will be substantiallyprevented. Preferably two or more fasteners 50 are used to secure theextension member 44; however, it is contemplated that only one fastener50 may secure the extension member 44 to the lower leg portion 34.Alternatively, the desk structure 10 may be tall enough withoutattachment of the extension members 44, wherein the legs 30 alone mayprovide the book box 14 with sufficient stability and height.

As shown in FIG. 2, the book box 14 may comprise a back wall 52, twoside walls 54, and a bottom wall 56. As mentioned above, the walls arepreferably formed from molded plastic. The two side walls 54 areparallel to one another and perpendicular to the back wall 52. Thebottom wall 56 is perpendicular to the back wall 52 and substantiallyparallel to the writing surface 12. The walls 52, 54, and 56 of the bookbox 14 are integrally molded with one another. Thus, the book box 14 isenclosed on five sides. In one embodiment, the front of the book box 14is open for easy access to books and other educational materials.However, it is also contemplated that the book box 14 may comprise aclosed volume, in which all six sides of the box are closed.Additionally, the walls 52, 54, and 56 of the book box may form othergeometries. As shown in FIG. 2, the receiver sleeves 16 are locatedadjacent to the side wall 54 and bottom wall 56. This configuration,with the receiver sleeves 16 located at the four corners of the book box14, allows for maximum utilization of the storage volume provided by thebook box 14.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a fastener 58 secures thewriting surface 12 to the book box 14. The side and back walls 54, 52include flanges at multiple peripheral locations for securing thewriting surface 12 to the book box 14. A fastener 58, preferably ascrew, passes through the underside of the flanges and secures thebottom of the writing surface 12 to the book box 14. Other fastenerssuch as pins or bolts may also be used. This configuration positions thefasteners 58 so that they are not protruding from the desk structure 10in an unseemly fashion. Alternatively, as mentioned above, the writingsurface 12 may be hingeably attached such that it can open and close,while staying connected to the book box 14.

While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limitedby the scope of the accompanying Claims.

1. A desk structure comprising: a writing surface; a book box secured tothe writing surface; a plurality of receiver sleeves integrally moldedwith the book box, each receiver sleeve having an outer wall and aninner wall, the inner wall having a slot and a plurality of radiallyspaced ribs, the inner wall defining an opening; a plurality of legs,each leg having an upper leg portion, wherein the upper leg portion ofeach leg is received by the inner wall opening of a correspondingreceiver sleeve; each upper leg portion including a detent adapted toengage a corresponding inner wall slot when the upper leg portion isreceived by the inner wall opening of the corresponding receiver sleeve.2. The desk structure of claim 1, wherein the detent is a protrusionthat extends outward from and perpendicular to the upper leg portion,positioning the upper leg portion within the opening.
 3. The deskstructure of claim 2, wherein the detent partially retracts into theupper leg portion as the upper leg portion is received by the inner wallopening, the detent returning to the extended outward position andengaging the slot once the upper leg portion is fully received by theopening.
 4. The desk structure of claim 3, wherein the detent is a snapbutton comprising two prongs and a button head.
 5. The desk structure ofclaim 1, wherein once the detent engages the slot, movement of the upperleg portion is substantially prevented.
 6. The desk structure of claim1, wherein the ribs of the receiver sleeve inner wall form a press fitwith the upper leg portion to secure the upper leg portion within theopening.
 7. The desk structure of claim 1, wherein each leg includes alower leg portion and a leg extension member, the leg extension memberbeing telescopically received by the lower leg portion.
 8. The deskstructure of claim 7, wherein each extension member includes a pluralityof vertically aligned holes.
 9. The desk structure of claim 8, whereineach lower leg portion includes a plurality of vertically aligned holes,the holes of the lower leg portion corresponding to the holes of theextension member.
 10. The desk structure of claim 9, wherein a fastenerpasses through the corresponding holes of the extension member and thelower leg portion and secures the extension member to the lower legportion.
 11. The desk structure of claim 1, wherein the book boxcomprises a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom wall.
 12. A deskstructure comprising: a writing surface; a book box secured to thewriting surface; a plurality of receiver sleeves integrally molded withthe book box, each receiver sleeve having an outer wall and an innerwall, the inner wall having a slot and a plurality of radially spacedribs, the inner wall defining an opening; a plurality of legs, each leghaving an upper leg portion, wherein the upper leg portion of each legis received by the inner wall opening of a corresponding receiversleeve; each upper leg portion including a detent adapted to engage acorresponding inner wall slot when the upper leg portion is received bythe inner wall opening of the corresponding receiver sleeve, whereinonce the detent engages the slot, movement of the upper leg portion issubstantially prevented.
 13. The desk structure of claim 12, wherein thedetent is a protrusion that extends outward from and perpendicular tothe upper leg portion, the detent partially retracting into the upperleg portion as the upper leg portion is received by the inner wallopening, the detent returning to the extended outward position andengaging the slot once the upper leg portion is fully received by theopening, the detent positioning the upper leg within the opening. 14.The desk structure of claim 12, wherein the ribs of the receiver sleeveinner wall form a press fit with the upper leg portion to secure theupper leg portion within the opening.
 15. The desk structure of claim12, wherein each leg includes a lower leg portion and a leg extensionmember, the leg extension member being telescopically received by thelower leg portion.
 16. The desk structure of claim 15, wherein the lowerleg portion includes a plurality of vertically aligned holes thatcorrespond to a plurality of vertically aligned holes on the extensionmember.
 17. The desk structure of claim 12, wherein the book boxcomprises a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom wall.
 18. The deskstructure of claim 17, wherein the receiver sleeve is adjacent to oneside wall and the bottom wall.
 19. A desk structure comprising: awriting surface; a book box secured to the writing surface; a pluralityof receiver sleeves integrally molded with the book box, each receiversleeve having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall having aslot and a plurality of radially spaced ribs, the inner wall defining anopening; a plurality of legs, each leg having an upper leg portion,wherein the upper leg portion of each leg is received by the inner wallopening of a corresponding receiver sleeve; each upper leg portionincluding a detent adapted to engage a corresponding inner wall slotwhen the upper leg portion is received by the inner wall opening of thecorresponding receiver sleeve, wherein once the detent engages the slot,movement of the upper leg is substantially prevented, the ribs of thereceiver sleeve inner wall forming a press fit and further securing theupper leg portion within the opening.
 20. The desk structure of claim19, wherein the detent is a protrusion that extends outward from andperpendicular to the upper leg portion, the detent retracting into theupper leg portion as the upper leg portion is received by the inner wallopening, the detent returning to the extended outward position andengaging the slot once the upper leg portion is fully received by theopening, the detent positioning the upper leg within the opening. 21.The desk structure of claim 19, wherein each leg includes a lower legportion and a leg extension member, the leg extension member beingtelescopically received by the lower leg portion.